Daniel’s pov The phone buzzed violently in my pocket, the screen flashing with an unknown number. My heart sank, a gnawing dread already telling me who it was. I answered, my voice steady but my hands trembling. "Daniel," the voice on the other end was cold, calculated. "If you want to see Lily again, you and Emma need to come to the old warehouse on the outskirts of town. Come alone, or she dies." "Please, don’t hurt her!" I pleaded, my voice breaking. "We’ll come. Just don’t hurt her." "You have two hours," the caller said, and the line went dead. I turned to Emma, my face ashen. "They want us both to go. It's a trap, but we have no choice." Emma's eyes widened with fear but also a resolute determination. "I'm coming with you." "No, Emma," I begged, grabbing her hands. "It's definitely a trap for you. I can’t let you go." "I won’t let you go alone," she replied firmly. "Lily needs us both. We go together." Despite my protests and desperate attempts to convince her otherwise
Michael’s pov I sat beside Jessica’s hospital bed, holding her hand gently as she slept. Her heart condition had taken a severe toll on her, and watching her struggle was painful. I adjusted her pillows and smoothed her hair, my mind swirling with worry and affection. Despite everything, I couldn’t ignore the feelings I had for her. Suddenly, the sound of ambulance sirens cut through the calm, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced at the door, my heart rate quickening. Moments later, a nurse burst in, her face pale with urgency."Dr. Thompson, you're needed in the ER. There's been an emergency."I squeezed Jessica’s hand one last time before rushing out of the room. My mind raced as I made my way to the ER, wondering what kind of case awaited me. When I arrived, the scene that greeted me made my heart drop.Emma and Lily were huddled together, crying hysterically while clutching Daniel’s unmoving body. Blood pooled beneath him, and the sight was gut-wrenching. I felt a wave of drea
Emma’s pov The incessant beeping of the machines in the ICU became a cruel reminder of the fragility of life. I sat beside Daniel’s bed, my hand clutching his, my heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. The sterile smell of antiseptics filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of flowers from a bouquet someone had left. I hadn't slept in days. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the warehouse, the gunshot, Daniel lying still on the ground. My mind was a whirlwind of regret and fear. I whispered to him, my voice trembling. “I’m so sorry, Daniel. I should have protected you. Please, come back to us.” Michael visited often, checking on Daniel, providing updates. His presence was a strange comfort, a reminder that not everyone was lost. Yet, every time he entered the room, I saw the conflict in his eyes—a blend of professional duty and personal longing. Just as I began to doze off, a commotion erupted. A beautiful woman stormed into the ICU with fury. I recognized her at first glance
The tension in the air was palpable as David pored over the reports from the warehouse incident. Something didn’t add up. The meticulous nature of the attack, the precision with which it had been executed—this wasn’t the work of a random thug. It was the work of someone with a personal vendetta and resources to back it up.David had been working tirelessly, his team combing through every detail. He replayed the security footage, scrutinized the transcripts of phone calls, and followed every lead. His instincts told him there was a deeper connection, and he was determined to uncover it.After hours of investigation, David finally stumbled upon a crucial piece of information. One of the henchmen had a known affiliation with a powerful figure—Roger, Daniel’s uncle. Roger had a notorious reputation and a history of involvement in criminal activities. He was after the assets that were rightfully inherited by Daniel and had been scheming against him, threatening him with his assets, his sha
Emma knew that in order to move forward, she needed to address the trauma that Lily had endured. The kidnapping had left deep scars, and Emma was determined to help her daughter heal. She scheduled an appointment with Dr. Ellen Hart, the psychologist who had helped their family during the tumultuous times of divorce and relocation.The day of the appointment, Emma and Lily walked into Dr. Hart’s cozy office. The walls were adorned with colorful drawings, and a shelf was filled with toys and books. Dr. Hart greeted them warmly, her gentle demeanor immediately putting Lily at ease."Lily, it’s nice to see you again. Why don’t you pick a toy, and we can have a chat?" Dr. Hart suggested.Lily chose a stuffed bunny and sat down next to her mother. "I’m scared," she admitted softly, clutching the bunny tightly.Dr. Hart nodded empathetically. "It’s okay to be scared, Lily. Can you tell me what you’re scared of?"Lily’s eyes filled with tears. "I’m scared I’ll be taken away again. And I miss
David and Emma sat at a small conference table in a quiet corner of the hospital, their focus intense as they reviewed the latest findings. Emma’s heart was pounding as David continued to sift through the documents.“Emma, I’ve been examining Roger’s financial records and email correspondence,” David said, his voice steady but laden with concern. “I’ve uncovered something significant.”Emma leaned forward, her eyes locked on David. “What did you find?”David’s gaze met hers with a mixture of apprehension and determination. “Jessica is deeply involved with Roger’s schemes. She’s been part of fraudulent transactions and covert communications that tie her directly to his plans.”Emma’s eyes narrowed, her mind racing. “I suspected Jessica ever since the warehouse incident and the shady man who tried to kill me. It makes sense now why she was so involved. This complicates things even more.”David nodded. “It does. We need to act quickly.”Emma glanced toward Daniel's hospital room, where h
Michael's POVI stood at the edge of the park, watching Emma, Daniel, and Lily enjoy their afternoon. I had won Jessica back, but the sight of Emma with her family stirred something dark within me. My jaw clenched, and my heart burned with a mix of envy and regret. Emma, who had once been mine, was now slipping further away.I retreated to my car, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. I tried to focus on the victory of winning Jessica back. I dreamed of our passionate night together, the way she whispered my name in the darkness, her body pressing against mine, the fire in her eyes as we moved together. Her voice, seductive and mischievous, echoed in my mind. "You’re mine, Michael," she had said, and I had believed it. But the image of Emma's smile as she played with Lily haunted me. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. “What’s wrong with me?” I muttered to myself, the demonic side of my personality simmering just beneath the surface. I couldn't shake
Emma's POVAs Michael stormed out of the apartment, a wave of unease and fear washed over me. The look in his eyes was that of an obsessive, psychotic person. After seeing Jessica's true colors, the trust I once had in Michael was completely shattered. My mind raced with thoughts of how to deal with his increasingly erratic behavior. I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart pounding in my chest.I needed to calm down. Heading to the bathroom, I turned on the shower, hoping the warm water would wash away my anxiety. As I stood under the spray, memories of Michael's dark gaze kept creeping back. I felt trapped, unsure of how to protect myself and Lily from his madness.When I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and heard a gentle knock at the door. The knock was so soft, it was clear the person knew Lily was asleep and didn’t want to disturb her. I opened the door to find Daniel standing there, his face pale and tense.“Daniel, what’s wrong?” I asked, my hea